Beet-topper



J. L. EAST. BEET TO PPER. APPLICATION F LLED MAR. 25. 1920.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I INVENTOR. J. L EA 6 7'.

NORRIS FEIERS. Inc. LITHQ, WASHINGTON. D. (L l J. L. EAST.

BEET TOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25. 1920.

. Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR. J L. 345 1- A TTORNE Y.

NDRRIS'PETERS. INC LlTHO-. WASHINGYON. D. C.

warren stares earner errata.

JAMES L. EAST, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

BEET-TOZPPER.

Application filed March 25, 1920. Serial No. 368,780.

To all whom it may concern: Be it lmown that 1, JAMES L. EAsr, a citizen of the United States, residing. atDenver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beet-Toppers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to beet toppers and its main object residesin providing a light, simple and every effective device which may be readily operated by any suitable propel-. I ling means to sever the tops of sugar beets construction and novel arrangements of parts all of which contribute to the efi'ectlve,

operation ofthe-topper and to economy in its construction.

With these ob]ects n view, my improved beet-topper consists in the construction and combinations of parts hereinafter to be more fully described and shown in the preferred form of the invention, in the accompanying drawings in the various views of which like parts are similarly designated, and in which t Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of the improved topping device;

Fig. 2, aside elevation thereof; Fig. 3, a section taken along the line 3.-3, Fig. 1, and

, Fig. 4:, an enlargedsection along the line 7 4-4, Fig. 1. I p v 7 Referring .to the drawings by numerical reference characters,' my improved beet topper consists of frame 5' of structural metal which may be attached to a beet harvesting machine, forward of its digging appliances or to any other machine or device which is suitable for drawing the topper over the field to be harvested. I, j

A sled 6 composed of two paralle runners 7 connected. by arches 8 is suspended from the frame by coiled springs 9' attached at the upper portions of the arches. 7

Each runner consists of a longitudinally extendedloop 10 which for simplicity in construction is composed of two sections12 and 13 connected by bolts 14:. The bolts are' also employed to rigidly connect the runners to the arches which to this end are provided with laterally projecting feet 15.

"The'runners are provided with transverse slots 16 throughwhich the bolts are passed thereby permitting of varying the distance between them. I 1

The upper sections 13 of the runnersare' extended forwardly to provide upwardly curving draw bars 17 by which. the sled is pivotally connected to the frame.

' This connection is established through the medium of a yoke 18which issuspended from the frame to move about a vertical axis in a bearing 19 and which is branchedfat its lower end for the pivotalconnection of the draw bars. The latterare to this end providediwith eyes 20 into which the hori- Specification of Letters Patent. Patent d A 5 192 I zontally alined ends of the arms ofthe yoke I are loosely fitted. v

The sections of the, runners have central transverse slots 21 through which are passed bevel headed bolts 22 upon which the cut,-

ters 23 of the device are rotatably supported.

The cutters which are mounted within the loops of the runners, are ofv circular disklike form and. have oppositely extending hubs 24 of different heights through which. the bolts extend;

This construction permits of varying the distance of the cutters above the surface over whichthe sled is moved by merely reversing their position 'in' the loops.

els 25 which extendforwardly of the-cuttingdisks to 'clearthe ground for, the passage of the runners. H Suspended from the frame rearwardly' of B'gidlysecured to the draw-bars are shov 7 i 7 the sled, is an element which operates to move the severed beet tops to one side ofthe,

machine for the purpose; of clearing the ground for the operation ofthe digging ap" pliances on the harvesting machine with which the topperis connected. y

This elementconsi'sts of adrum 26pmvided with a number of longitudinally extended r'akes27the teeth ofwhicharecurved. i

The drum is rotatably mounted at the lower ends of hangers 28 which are connected to the frame at nonalined points to place the axis of rotation of the drum slantingly with relation to the direction in which the sled is moved in the operation of the machine The drum is rotatively mounted in boxes 29 by oppositely extending trunnions 30 and these boxes are slidable on the before-mentioned hangers 28 and are normally supported upon heads 31 at the lower ends thereof.

ledges 34 which in the operation of the machine ride across the tops of the beets and thereby gage the distance from their crowns at which thetops areseveredb In the operation of the machine the frame 5 is connected to the harvesting machine or other propelling device by any suitable .means and the rota1 y top-defiecting element is connected to a rotating part of the same by means of a belt or chain 35 running upon a sprocket wheel or pulley. 36 at the end of oneof its trunnions. i

, During movement of the sled at opposite sides ofa row of beets to beharvested, the

shovels 25 clear the ground for the passage of the runners and the circular cuttinx disks cooperate to sever the tops of the beets.

The gages 34 on the runners determine the distance at which the tops are'severed from the roots and the rotating rakes 27 move the severed tops to one side of the machine out of the path of the digging appli ances'of a harvesting machine. 7

It will be seen that the pivotal and flexible connections between the frameand the sled permit of an up and downward movement of the runners and the therewith connected knives when the gages engage beets protruding at different heights above the surface of the ground.

The connections furthermore allow the sled t0 bass over obstructive matter not removed by the action of the shovels and the pivotal connection of the yoke with the frame permits'of a lateral deflection of the sled to compel it to engage all the beets in a row irrespective of their alinement.

Theslotted connection of the runners with the arches by which they are connected and the slotted connection of the knives with the runners allow of ad uStment of the parts to take up wear or to adapt the machine for,

effective operation under varying conditions 7 and the yielding connection of the top-deflecting element with the frame permits of its riding across obstructive matter without breakage or deformation of its rakes.

Having thus described my improved beet topper in the most practical form at present known to me, I desire it understood that modifications in the construction and arrangements of its parts may be made with-r out departing from the spirit of the in- I vention. 7

What I claim and desire to secure by Let ters-Patent is: V

1. A beet topper comprising a sled com Josed of connected runners and rotar cutsled having a universal movement thereon,

and a cutting element on the sled.

3. A beet topper comprising afranie, a sled, flexible means connecting the sled with the frame, and a cutting element on the sled;

4. A beet topper comprising a frame ja sled pivoted thereon, a flexible connection between the sled and the frame, and a cut ting element on the sled; I 5. A beet topper comprising a frame,

sled pivoted'thereon foikmovement about vertical and horizontalaxes, anda cutting element on the sled. j r 1 6. A beet topper comprising a frame, a

sled pivoted thereon for movement about vertical and horizontal axes,ca flexible con-1 nection between the sled and the frame, and a cutting element on the sled. I

tical axis, asled pivoted on theyoke to move about a horizontal axis, Vanda cutting element on the sled. V v

8. A beet topper comprising a frame,,-a

yoke pivoted thereon toemove abouta vertical axis. a sled pivoted-on the yoke to move about a horizontal ax1s,-a flexible connection between the frame and cuttlng element on the sled. V

9; beet topper comprlsmga frame, a

the sled, and a V. 7..A beet topper comprising a frame, a yoke pivoted thereonto move about aver:

sled composed of runnershaving forwardly.

extended draw bars, a pivotal lconnectionbe= tween the draw bars and theframe, and a cutting element on the sled.

10. A beet topper comprising frame.

sled composed of-runners having forwardly extended draw bars, a pivoted yoke on the frame, in pivotal connection with said draw bars, and a cutting elementon the sled 11, A beet topper comprising a frame, a"

sled composed of runner-shaving forwardly extended draw bars in connection with the frame, shovels on said draw-bars, and a cutting element on the sled.

12. A beet topper comprising a frame, a sled composed of runners and arches connecting the same, springs connecting the arches to the frame, a pivotal connection between the sled and the frame, and a cutting element on the sled.

13. A beet topper comprising asled, a cutting element thereon, and rearward of the sled, an element adapted for moving severed beet tops to one side, and yieldably mounted for up and downward motion.

14. A beettopper comprising a sled, a cutting element thereon, and rearward of the sled, an element for moving severed beets to one side, composed of a rotary drum having a series of longitudinally extended rakes.

15. A beet topper comprising a frame, a sled composed of runners and arches connecting the same, flexible connections between the arches and the frame, a'pivotal connection between the sled and the frame,

and a cutting element on the sled.

16. A beet topper comprising two normally rigidly connected runners, a pair of cooperating cutting disks rotatably mounted on said runners, and means to adjust the distance between the runners whereby to vary the cooperative relation of the cutting mounted for upward motion and including two connected runners which at their inner edges have ledges placed with relation to each other tolift the sled by engagement with the top of a beet in the path thereof,

and rotary cutting disks mounted on the runners to cooperatively sever the tops of.

the beets. V

19. In a beet topper, a sled composed of connected runners each comprising a drawbar, and 'a strap having upwardly bent end portions fastened at the under side thereof, and cooperating cuttingdisks rotatably mounted in vthe spaces, between the drawbars and the respective straps of the 'rimners.

In testimony whereof 'I have aflixed my signature. I

JAMES L. EAST. 

